Rheumatoid Arthritis Health Center

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sex

Sex, Intimacy, and RA: The Value of Experimentation

When you have RA, using sexual aids such as the Liberator line of pillows designed to support you where you can't support yourself can help. "These are wonderful props that can take the pressure off where it hurts," Cadell tells WebMD.

Experimenting with positions is another way to improve the quality of your sexual relationship. Cadell says there are many different sexual positions to try depending on which joints are affected by RA.

Bergman says it comes down to trial and error. "There are certain positions that may be uncomfortable," he says, "but others may be very satisfactory."

Sex, Intimacy, and RA: Managing Your RA Makes a Difference

Bergman tells WebMD that much of the same advice that applies to other aspects of life with RA applies to sexuality. For starters, he says, it's important to take your RA medication regularly. "Skipping medication doses will only increase your pain," he says.

Treating RA early and aggressively can move almost half of all people with this disease into remission, Bergman says. "This approach to treatment means that questions about sex may never come up."